In a win for traffic safety around the country, Virginia became the first U.S. state to adopt legislation that would impose life-saving speed-limiting tech on the most dangerous class of drivers.

This legislation HB2096 allows judges to require drivers convicted of certain extreme speeding offenses to install Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology in their vehicles. By automatically limiting a vehicle’s speed to the posted speed limit, ISA technology reduces the risk of deadly crashes caused by excessive speeding.

This campaign was led in part by Families for Safe Streets, including members like Tammy McGee whose 16-year-old son Conner Guido was tragically killed by a reckless driver.

"We thank Governor Youngkin, Delegate Patrick Hope, and all who helped make this bill into a law, as no parent should ever have to bury their child due to a preventable crash. The passing of HB2096 is a step in the right direction to make our roads safer and protect families from the devastating impact of reckless driving,” said McGee. “I hope that by installing speed-limiting technology on the vehicles of those who choose to repeatedly speed, we can save lives and prevent other families from enduring the same heartbreak we’ve experienced.

Similar to ignition interlock devices (also known as breathalyzers), which are sometimes required for convicted drunk drivers, the new law targets the worst-of-the-worst speeding offenders who cause a disproportionate number of serious and fatal crashes. Families for Safe Streets, along with a coalition of groups, is pursuing similar legislation in a number not other states including California, Washington and Georgia. For more information or to get involved visit: https://www.familiesforsafestreets.org/safe-vehicles

Families for Safe Streets’ work spotlighting the human cost of traffic violence is being held up as an example for other nonprofits by the global geospatial software leader ESRI.

Our Community Story Map, which features the stories of nearly 200 victims across the United States, was featured by ESRI as an example of the power of GIS software in creating policy change and solving social problems. We expect the recognition will expand awareness of our work and the heartbreak and devastation caused by inaction on traffic safety.

The map directs users to stories like that of Rashad Al-Hakim Jr, who was struck and killed at just 15-years old by a DUI driver as he crossed the street in front of his high school. Or that of Trevor Doom, a 26-year-old fire department captain, who was killed along with his fiancé, and three members of her family when they were hit by the driver of a semi-truck that had run a red light.

“The FSS Community Story Map has turned statistics into people, giving names to them and sharing their stories for all to access,” ESRI wrote in its description. “It provides an opportunity to unite a country around a cause and allows the grieving to attach photographs and stories to what were once faceless statistics.”

ESRI has over one million active users across 350,000 organizations across the world. If you’d like to add your story to the map, please visit this link.